Philippines, 15 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Mendez is Acquinity Sports' 1st world champion

PhilBoxing.com




DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (March 15, 2013) - Newly crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight titlist Argenis "The Thunderstorm" Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs) has given his promoter, Acquinity Sports, its first world champion.

Last Saturday night in Costa Mesa (Calif.), Mendez became an instant star by registering a sensational Knockout of the Year caliber victory over defending IBF champion Juan Carlos Salgado (26-2-1, 16 KOs) on HBO Latino.

Mendez, a 2004 Dominican Republic Olympian now living in Miami, dropped Salgado in the opening round and finished off his Mexican opponent in the fourth. The two had fought eight months ago in Mexico, in which Salgado won a controversial 12-round decision by scores of 114-112, 114-112, and 115-110.

Mendez, who has risen to No. 2 in The Ring Magazine ratings, was the mandatory challenger and the 26-yearold promised that he wasn't going to leave the outcome of this fight in the hands of the judges again.

"We were confident in what he was going to do," Mendez' promoter Henry Rivalta (Acquinity Sports) said. "He knew Salgado's weaknesses going into the fight. He never recovered from the first-round knockdown. Mendez is a great athlete. You should see him play basketball. I think the difference for Argenis this fight was him working so hard and well with trainer, Lee Beard, and the relationship he now has with his promotional team. The kid was on the shelf after losing to Salgado. I saw a lot of talent in this kid and bought his promotional contract."

Acquinity Sports has been in business only a little more than a year. Mendez becoming its first world champion is testament to the hands-on, supportive philosophy it has with all its boxers, as well as a sure sign that Acquinity Sports is a rising player making a name for itself as a full-service boxing operations company. Rivalta is quick to note that Mendez' accomplishment is just the beginning for Acquinity Sports.

"This was very important for Acquinity Sports," Rivalta spoke about the significance of Mendez becoming the company's first world champion. "This is a major step-up for us, legitimacy, and we have a lot of other great kids in our stable like (WBA #2 featherweight) Claudio 'The Matrix" Marrero (14-0, 11 KOs), who fights WBA champion Nicholas Walters on May 11, (WBA #6 bantamweight) Juan Carlos Payno (12-0, 6 KOs), (super bantamweight) Alexei Collado (15-0, 14 KOs), and newly signed Hylon Williams, Jr. (16-1, 3 KOs), who is dropping down to 126 pounds and I predict will be world champion. And the list goes on for us.

"For me, personally, Mendez' win was significant. I've been promoting since 2005 and he is the first world champion I've developed. I'm very happy. He is going to fight two or three more times at 130 before moving up to 135 to take on the likes of (Adrian) Broner or (Ricky) Burns. Mendez and Juan Manual Lopez - Dominican vs. Puerto Rican - would be a big TV fight, and so would a fight against (Yuriorkis) Gamboa. We welcome the best."

The action has just heated-up for Acquinity Sports. In addition to the aforementioned WBA title fight featuring Marrero, hard-hitting Cuban light heavyweight Umberto "The Don" Savigne (10-1, 7 KOs), rated No. 5 by the WBA, takes on undefeated Brazilian slugger Jackson Junior (14-0, 13 KOs) on the March 19th ESPN Friday Night Fights card at Turning Stone Casino (Verona, NY); WBA #4 Dominque "3D" Dolton (13-0, 7 KOs) faces Roberto Garcia (31-3, 21 KOs) for the Interim WBA junior middleweight championship, and on Mar. 30 two-division world champion, WBA #5 Joan "Little Tyson" Guzman (33-1-1, 20 KOs), meets Vincente "El Loco" Mosquera (32-2-1, 17 KOs) for the Interim WBA super lightweight title.

""We're busy the next few months," Rivalta added. "All of our hard work is paying off. We're not Golden Boy or Top Rank, yet, but we're getting our guys in big fights as we go forward."

Go online to www.AquinitySports.com for additional information about Mendez or his stable-mates. Follow Acquinity Sports on Twitter @AcquinitySports, or friend is at Facebook.com/AcquinitySports.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
    , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 19-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.